Persistence pays off with a WEF win for McLain Ward

USA Olympian and world number 10 showjumper McLain Ward had to wait until week 10 to claim his first victory at this year’s Winter Equestrian Festival in contrast to last year when he seemed to be unable to lose for winning.

McLain Ward and First Lady finally find a result to match their form this season. Photo: Sarah Eakin

“It’s very hard to win here,” said McLain after taking the top spot in the WEF Challenge Cup aboard Robin Parsky’s First Lady. “It’s easy to get in a four-fault run and things to not really be going that badly. It’s a little what my circuit looks like.”

Eleven went through to the jump-off from a field of 48, with McLain staking a strong claim to first place on a time of 34.95 ahead of fellow American Kent Farrington finishing his round in 36.67 seconds with Myla.

The plan this season, McLain said, “was to win a little earlier on.” But that did not come to fruition, though not through lack of trying.

McLain and Frist Lady jumping to win in the WEF Challenge. Photo: Sportfot.

“It is a long year, we’ve had two very strong finishes on Saturday nights – one with First Lady, one with Callas and unfortunately I’ve had a few four fault rounds.” he said. “It’s a great privilege that we had a year like last year. We couldn’t have a fence down and that’s what becomes the barometer and you kind of expect to do that every week.”

This year’s results with the 11-year old Oldenburg mare First Lady have not always reflected the fact that, according McLain, “she has been feeling great all season. Lady has been very solid actually – a little bit frustrating with some of the four-fault rounds,” he said. “And it was nice that it came together for her today and her owner Robin Parsky and myself.”

In an Olympic year, McLain has two potential partnerships lined up for Paris in 16-year old Holsteiner mare Callas and the younger and more recent addition to his string, 11-year old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Ilex. “Callas I know very well,” he said. “She’s been a very solid partner the last season and a half – really a big day horse. Ilex is an exciting little bit younger horse. We’re still getting to know each other but already the performances feel strong and I feel like we can maybe leave Wellington knowing each other pretty well. [We will] focus both horses towards the Olympics and go with whatever horse feels like it’s in the best form in the moment.”